Start with push-ups to gain experience

At midday, the sun was shining brightly.

It's only a short ten-minute walk from the dark and damp underground cave to the headquarters of the True Thought Society.

Fang Cheng went straight to the VIP room on the top floor and took a long, hot shower to wash away the remaining seawater salt stains on his body.

Zhenxiang's logistics department was extremely efficient. Not only did they clear out all the irrelevant people from the floor early on, but they also thoughtfully prepared a set of black linen casual clothes for him that were made of fine fabric and well-tailored.

After changing his clothes, Fang Cheng was led by the logistics staff to a private room in the restaurant located on the west side of the building.

Pushing open the heavy double doors of the private room made of mahogany, a faint scent of sandalwood wafted to my nose.

The spacious restaurant is covered with thick carpets that make almost no sound when you step on them.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows offer a wide view, overlooking the bustling street scene of Yong'an Island below and gazing at the shimmering sea in the distance.

In the center of the room, there was a round table made of rosewood that could seat more than a dozen people.

Besides Zheng Hongxin and Chen Jiandong, there were three other people standing around the table.

Upon seeing Fang Cheng enter the private room, Zheng Hongxin immediately stepped forward, his face beaming with a fawning smile, and gestured with his hand:
"Mr. Fang, this way please. The head seat has been reserved for you."

Fang Cheng didn't stand on ceremony. He strode to the head of the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down calmly.

After he was seated, Zheng Hongxin and the other talents took their seats.

Zheng Hongxin sat to Fang Cheng's right, and Chen Jiandong sat to Fang Cheng's left.

Then, Zheng Hongxin pointed to the three unfamiliar faces opposite him and introduced them to Fang Cheng one by one.

“Mr. Fang, these are all core members of our guild.”

"This is Elder Feng Kehai, who is mainly responsible for the guild's financial operations and overseas asset allocation."

Fang Cheng looked up.

Feng Kehai was an elderly man with gray hair and a thin build.

He was wearing a traditional Chinese jacket and a pair of retro round-framed gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.

The eyes hidden behind the glasses revealed the shrewdness and scrutiny characteristic of a businessman.

"Mr. Fang is a young man of great talent. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Feng Kehai bowed slightly, speaking politely.

"This is Wu Yingshan, the head of the intelligence department."

Zheng Hongxin continued to introduce Fang Cheng.

Wu Yingshan is a middle-aged woman who still retains her charm, wearing a high-necked, dark purple cheongsam.

The high collar tightly fastened around the neck, seemingly to conceal the scales that had grown due to the mutation of her bloodline.

She smiled sweetly at Fang Cheng, her red lips slightly parted: "Hello, Mr. Fang."

"This last one is Zhao Lei, the head of our Enforcement Hall. He is usually in charge of security and discipline at headquarters and external deterrence missions."

Zhao Lei is a burly, strong man with a shaved head.

He was wearing only a tight vest, and his two thick arms were covered with knife scars and his muscles were bulging.

His face looked somewhat fierce and menacing, like a ferocious beast ready to pounce at any moment.

"Greetings, Chairman Fang!"

Zhao Lei's voice was extremely loud, making the ceramic tableware on the table vibrate.

Upon hearing this address, Fang Cheng turned to look at Zheng Hongxin.

"President Zheng, what did we say at the underground altar?"

Fang Cheng picked up a hot towel and wiped his hands, his tone neither warm nor cold:
“I’ve already said that you’ve misunderstood. Chairman Su did not pass his position to me, so there’s no need to call me chairman.”

Zheng Hongxin's face stiffened, then he raised his hand and slapped his forehead, feigning annoyance:
"Oh dear, look at my senile mind! Zhao Lei, how dare you speak to Mr. Fang like that? Behave yourself!"

Zhao Lei touched his bald head, grinned to reveal a mouthful of white teeth, but showed no intention of admitting his mistake, only nodding perfunctorily.

Fang Cheng tossed the towel back onto the tray, his expression calm, knowing full well what these people were up to.

Clearly, they had communicated with each other and made preparations before I arrived.

He seemed to agree readily, but in reality, he had no intention of changing his mind. He clearly wanted to use this subtle approach to force the title of "chairman" onto himself.

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Zheng Hongxin quickly spoke up, talking about how nice the weather was today and making small talk about some trivial matters in the guild.

During the conversation, the side door of the private room was pushed open.

Two rows of uniformed waiters filed in carrying trays and began serving dishes in a continuous stream.

Steamed deep-sea grouper, grilled abalone the size of a palm, a platter of bluefin tuna sashimi glistening with oil, and braised sea cucumber.

There were also various rare ingredients whose names I didn't know, which quickly filled the huge turntable to the brim.

The rich aroma of spices, mixed with the unique sweetness of seafood, fills the air, making one's mouth water.

Zheng Hongxin stood up and took out an antique-style celadon wine jar from the wine cabinet behind him.

He personally broke the mud seal, and a strange aroma of wine instantly wafted out.

The aroma had both the rich, fermented flavor of grains and a refreshing, crisp scent, like a sea breeze brushing against rocks.

"Mr. Fang, please try this."

Zheng Hongxin carried the wine jar and personally filled the stemmed glass in front of Fang Cheng.

The wine was not the usual transparent or slightly yellow color, but an extremely clear light green, shimmering with a faint glow under the light.

"This wine is called 'Bi Chao Chun', and it is a unique specialty of our Yong'an Island."

Zheng Hongxin put down the wine jar and introduced it with a smile:

“During the brewing process, in addition to the finest sorghum as the main ingredient, we also added ‘silver thread algae’ that grows only in the Long Bay Trench as an auxiliary ingredient, and then sealed it at a constant temperature in an underwater cave for a full fifteen years.”

"This liquor is very strong. Drinking it can not only relax muscles and improve blood circulation, but it can also help suppress the restlessness of blood vessels in our bodies."

Fang Cheng picked up his wine glass, brought it to his nose, and smelled it.

Then he tilted his head back and took a small sip.

The wine is smooth on the palate, sliding down the throat, initially carrying a hint of seaweed saltiness.

Then it transforms into a warm, fiery sensation that spreads through the stomach, leaving a lingering, sweet aftertaste.

"It's really good."

Fang Cheng put down his wine glass and gave a fair assessment.

"I'm glad you like it."

Upon seeing this, Zheng Hongxin immediately beamed with joy.

He then picked up his wine glass, his face flushed, and held it high in the air:
"This first glass of wine is a welcome toast to Chairman Fang... uh, Mr. Fang!"

"Mr. Jingfang!"

Everyone present echoed this sentiment and raised their glasses in response.

Fang Cheng didn't put on airs. He raised his glass and clinked it against the others' glasses before drinking it all in one gulp.

Then, he picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of snow-white grouper meat, put it in his mouth, and began to enjoy it.

After enduring water pressure at a depth of 10,000 meters for most of the day, he was extremely exhausted and needed to fill the emptiness in his stomach.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The atmosphere in the private room gradually warmed up. Zheng Hongxin and Chen Jiandong took turns serving Fang Cheng food and toasting him, their words full of compliments about his physique and courage.

Sitting opposite him, Feng Kehai held a wine glass and gently swirled the emerald green liquid inside.

His eyes, hidden behind his gold-rimmed glasses, were silently observing Fang Cheng through the crystal ornaments on the rotating plate.

From the moment he sat down until now, this young man has acted too naturally.

Facing a table full of powerful figures from the underworld, Fang Cheng focused on eating and drinking, sitting relaxed and showing no sign of unease or tension whatsoever.

"Mr. Fang has an extraordinary demeanor and looks remarkably young."

Feng Kehai put down his wine glass, a warm smile on his face, and seemingly casually started a conversation:
"I wonder which prestigious family Mr. Fang comes from? To gain Chairman Su's favor and have the Silver Key entrusted to you, you must be an outstanding person."

"Perhaps we really have some business dealings with your family in the past."

As soon as these words were spoken, the chewing and talking sounds in the private room immediately quieted down.

Wu Yingshan and Zhao Lei also stopped what they were doing and pricked up their ears.

This is precisely the biggest question in everyone's mind.

Although Zheng Hongxin had already informed them of the specific situation and explained that the Silver Key was in Fang Cheng's hands, they were still unconvinced and secretly speculated.

Who exactly is this young man who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?
Fang Cheng swallowed the shrimp meat in his mouth, grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth, and picked up his teacup to take a sip.

"Elder Feng thinks too highly of me. I am not from any prestigious family."

Fang Cheng leaned back in his chair and said in a calm tone:
“My hometown is Dongdu, and my parents are ordinary people. I graduated from university just over two years ago, and now I’m just an ordinary office worker, working nine to five, and I have to squeeze onto the subway to clock in at the company every day.”

A brief silence fell over the private room.

The high-ranking members of the meeting exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes conveying a sense of astonishment and absurdity.

An ordinary office worker? A working person who squeezes onto the subway to clock in?
What an international joke!
Feng Kehai's smile was somewhat stiff.

The fingers gripping the wine glass tightened slightly, producing a soft scraping sound against the glass.

He quickly calculated in his mind.

If this kid is telling the truth, then has Chairman Su Jing'an gone mad?

How could they entrust a sacred relic, which is crucial to the survival of the guild, to a college graduate with no background and no strength?
If he's lying, then this pretense is far too perfunctory.

Wu Yingshan rested her chin on her hand, which was painted with bright red nail polish, and her beautiful eyes sparkled.

His gaze fell on Fang Cheng's long, clean hands, which were free of calluses, and swept over them lightly.

These hands certainly don't look like the hands that hold weapons all year round or engage in high-intensity physical training.

However, when she entered the room just now, she clearly felt a heart-palpitating sense of oppressive aura emanating from this man.

"Going to work is good; office workers have a more stable life."

Wu Yingshan raised her hand to cover her mouth, letting out a soft laugh that broke the silence:
"However, since Mr. Fang was able to cross the spatial gate to Yong'an Island, he must possess amazing skills in some areas that we are unaware of, right?"

"Otherwise, how could someone as arrogant as Chairman Su become your friend?"

She continued to probe, following Fang Cheng's lead.

Fang Cheng picked up a piece of baked sea urchin, put it in his mouth, and answered casually:

“I like to work out regularly, so I’m a bit stronger than the average person. Maybe Brother Su was drawn to my strength because he felt safe taking me out with him.”

These words immediately elicited a cold snort from Zhao Lei on the other side.

Zhao Lei is a straightforward person who values ​​ability the most.

He looked Fang Cheng up and down in his linen shirt. Although he could see that the muscles under the shirt were well-defined, what use are dead muscles these days?

"President Fang!"

Zhao Lei suddenly picked up a large glass of Bi Chao Chun tea, stood up, and looked down at Fang Cheng.

"Old Zhao, I'm a rough man, I don't understand your intricacies. Since you hold the Silver Key, then in our hearts you are the new president."

"This drink is for you! If you're a real man, down it with me!"

Fang Cheng put down his chopsticks, glanced at Zhao Lei, and then turned to look at Zheng Hongxin.

Zheng Hongxin was looking down, focused on dealing with a fish bone on his plate.

As if he had suddenly gone deaf, he ignored Zhao Lei's deafening shout of "Chairman Fang".

Well, these people seem to have inherited the same shameless ways.

Fang Cheng muttered a curse to himself, but his face remained expressionless.

He then picked up his wine glass, without even standing up, and simply raised it in the air.

"You're too kind, Master Zhao. Cheers!"

Having said that, he tilted his head back and poured the wine in his glass down his throat.

Zhao Lei's eyes twitched slightly when he saw that Fang Cheng didn't even stand up to return the courtesy.

But mindful that the other party held a token, he swallowed his anger, tilted his head back, downed the entire glass of wine, and sat down heavily.

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Chen Jiandong quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

He picked up the serving chopsticks, placed a large shrimp on Fang Cheng's plate, and changed the subject with a smile:

"Seeing Mr. Fang's calm and composed demeanor, Jian Dong was filled with emotion. For a moment, it was as if he saw Chairman Su sitting there back then."

"yes……"

Zheng Hongxin looked up at the opportune moment, put down his chopsticks, and let out a long sigh.

A look of reminiscence appeared in the old man's eyes, and his tone became sentimental.

"President Su Jing'an is the most brilliant and talented leader in the history of our True Hope Society."

Zheng Hongxin looked at Fang Cheng and took the initiative to tell the story of the former president.

“Mr. Fang, you probably don’t know that Yong’an Island experienced a once-in-a-century ‘blood tide’ thirty years ago.”

"At that time, underwater volcanoes were frequently erupting, and the magnetic field in the abyss was completely disrupted. A group of deep-sea monsters, contaminated by high-dimensional energy, rushed up to the southern port with the ocean currents."

"The most troublesome one is a mutated giant octopus that is over thirty meters long."

At this point, not only Zheng Hongxin, but even Zhao Lei, who had been keeping a cold face, showed a look of awe in his eyes.

"That beast has thick skin and flesh; even the heavy machine guns of the port patrol team could only leave a few white marks on it."

"It waved its tentacles, stirring up waves more than ten meters high, and it looked like it was about to completely destroy the breakwater and rush into the civilian residential area."

Zheng Hongxin described it vividly, as if he were there himself.

"Just when everyone was at a loss, it was Chairman Su who stepped forward. He didn't bring any weapons, or even wear a diving suit, and jumped into the boiling whirlpool all by himself."

"From the shore, all we could see were blinding blue lights bursting out from beneath the sea."

Zheng Hongxin's voice carried a hint of excitement.

"Just ten minutes later, the sea returned to calm. Chairman Su emerged from the water, stepping on the enormous corpse of the mutated octopus."

"He actually tore off all eight of the beast's tentacles with his bare hands and ripped out all its internal organs."

"Yes!"

Sitting opposite him, Feng Kehai took over the conversation, filled with emotion:
"In that battle, Chairman Su protected the lives of tens of thousands of residents on Yong'an Island. He is a truly admirable leader; as long as he is there, the members of the True Thought Society feel secure." (End of Chapter)